Here is another chapter please let me know what you think and enjoy.
Chapter 3: Of Queens and Homecoming
Elaine woke up in her bedchamber in Riverrun. She opened her eyes and she saw her husband was still asleep in their bed. He looked quite handsome when he was asleep and not so brooding. His face was smooth and he looked like a young man he was. It was a fortnight since her wedding. A fortnight since her life changed and she became a woman. She still as not sure how she felt about her husband. She did not feel much to be fair. In the fortnight since the wedding her husband and her shared their bed everyday. It was not an unpleasant experience. Robb always made sure that she came when he pleasured her with her fingers before he entered her and spilled his seed inside of her. Elaine did not think of their coupling as bad but she did not care for her husband. She did not know him much and he did not know her as well. They did not seem to even care to get to know each other. It was all knew but she was getting used to it
Robb was busy with his bannermen and his Lord and the King in the South and Elaine was busy getting to know all of her ladies the Queen in the South and her new family. She was learning a lot about the people and the lands she was supposed to rule with her husband. Everyone was was calling her a Queen and she could not get used to it. She was always Elaine not a Queen and yet she was one now.
Elaine quietly got off the bed and went to their adjuring chamber where her bath was and called her handmaidens to bring her water for a bath. She made sure that they were quiet as to not wake up their King. Elaine called her handmaidens and made sure they brought water for a bath. When she sat in the hot water she closed her eyes and thought about the last two weeks since her wedding. She made friends with Queen Margery on her wedding day. She was king and smart and Elaine could learn a lot from her. How to be cunning like her and rule like her. Elaine needed as much help as she could get.
She remembered a conversation they had a couple days ago when they went for a walk in the gardens. Queen Margery wanted to speak to her and they went for a stroll in the gardens.
"It is a beautiful day. I am glad that we are able to enjoy the last bits of sun now before winter will be upon is." Margery said taking her arms into hers.
"I guess I make the best of the sun I have now. The North is not know for their sunny weather." Elaine said and Margery chuckled.
"No I guess they are not. Are you alright Elaine. You have been rather quiet." Margery said and Elaine
looked at her and nodded.
"I am fine Margery. Just a little sad. I will miss Roslin but this is the way of life. I need to be by my husband's side." Elaine said and Margery nodded
"Sadly that is the life for us women. We do not get to enjoy life before we are shipped away to our husband." Margery said picking a flower and smiling it.
"I never planned to marry a high Lord Margery let alone a King. I love to ride horses and I love to hunt. I am good at it. Very good. I love my bow and arrow. I do not want to lose myself and be just Queen Elaine and birth children." Elaine said picking up a stick from the ground and swinging it around as they walked. Margery chuckled.
"Then do not let yourself be lost. Be Elaine as well as the Queen. From what I heard Robb is not like the rest of the men. He let his sister be a member of the Kingsguard. Show him you are not like the rest of the woman. Show him you are his Queen." Margery said
"Never thought I would be Queen though. It all seems surreal. My husband … He is quiet and cold." Elaine said and Margery nodded and took her hand in hers again and walked on.
"I have been married to a king and betrothed to one before I finally married and became a Queen in all sense of the word. I gave my husband an heir and out daughter will be the Lady of Storms End when she is of age. I made sure I am married and be a Queen. I wanted it and now I have it Elaine. Now you are a Queen. If you want something go and get it. Show your Northerners you will not be just a meek little Queen. Be a great one. A one that they will remember." Margery said and Elaine nodded.
Elaine opener her eyes and looked at the ceiling of her chamber. She was still in the bath by the water has gone cold. She understood that she needed to gain the favour of her fellow northerners as well as her husbands. She was a Frey. Even if she bares the name of Stark now it was not their choice to. If her husband had a choice he would already have a Queen and a heir or two. He loved another as did she. But they were married and ruling together. She needs to get to know him.
She got up from the bath and began to dress herself. She did not need the help of her handmaidens to dress. She was dressing herself all of her life she will not get help now. She walked in to her bedchamber braiding her hair she was just in her small clothes when saw that her husband got up now and was putting his breeches off.
"When did you get up?" He asked her with a hoarse voice still deep with sleep.
"About 30 minutes ago and good morning to you too husband." She said looking at him.
"Good morning wife. We leave at midday today. Do you want your own wheelhouse or will you be riding with my mother and sister." He asked and Elaine looked at him. If she wants to be her own person. The person she always was she will start right now.
"I will not be riding on the wheelhouse. I will ride my horse." Elaine said picked up her riding clothes from her chest and looked at Robb who looked at her in a little bit of shock before snapping out of it and giving her a court nod.
"I will see you in the Great Hall for breakfast." he said and left the bedchambers and closing the door behind him. Elaine rolled her eyes at her husband and shook her head. She is a stubborn bastard and was acting like a child that did not get what he wants and she was getting quite bored of it. She was pushed to this wedding. Just like she was. He needs to get over it. She was loosing her patience and she never had it in abundance.
She left the bedchamber in her riding clothes and was getting weird looks from her husbands banner men. She needed to make herself known to them. She needed to show them she will be their Queen and that they need to accept her as she was.
She walked to the Great Hall and she saw her sister sitting with Queen Margery and the Queen Mother and Princess Sansa. They looked at her and Catelyn looked at her with shocked eyes.
"Is that a proper attire for a Queen?" Queen Mother Catelyn looked at her with a disapproving look.
"I want to be comfortable when I ride. I will not join you in the wheelhouse. I will ride. I need to feel the wind in my hair." Elaine said and Catelyn sighed and shook her head.
"I think you and my daughter Arya will get along just fine. She is as stubborn as you are not be act like a proper lady." Catelyn said and Elaine smiled at her mother in law.
"I am not a lady I am a Queen and it is time to show those men we are not as weak as they think we are. If I am not mistaken Queen Catelyn the Mormont women are trained to fight so that they can protect their home. So do the Dornish women. They are also allowed to rule if they are born first so why not bring it everywhere. Times are changing. We need to fallow them." Elaine said and Catelyn shook her head.
"You have a long way to go before you get it through their thick skulls. Men are proud creatures." Catelyn said.
"I know they are but so are we and we are just as strong. Even the most beautiful roses have thorns." Margery said and Elaine smiled at her.
"I believe that the Kingdoms have not seen Queens like you before. I am glad I know you both." Roslin said and the woman chuckled. Even Catelyn and Sansa joined them.
They were all standing in the courtyard. Elaine looked at her brown mare and smiled at her. Kissing her head and stroking her.
"I missed you my darling. You have been in the stables for far to long. You will be able to run now my love." She said and the mare whined at her.
"Its a beautiful horse. What her name?" Robb said walking toward her and Elaine smiled at him. She gave him a true smile for the first time. She was happy to be reunited with her horse.
"Her name is Arrow. She is fast like one. I got her for my name day three years ago. I begged my father to get me my own horse. I always stole my brothers horses. My father was always furious with me. He would always lock me away with my Septa's to make sure I did not run away and ride horsed. I always got out one way or another. On a day my father locked me away I got out stole my brothers horse and rode all day. I rode the woods close to our castle. It was nightfall when I came home. Father was waiting in the courtyard. I though he was going to strike me. He just looked at me and left. The next day I had her." Elaine said and smiling at the memory. It was one god thing her father had done for her. Robb walked over and stroked her as well
"My sister Arya would always run away from her lessons and practise sword fighting and archery when she though no one was looking. My father knew. He always knew when she was practising and he did not stop her. He pretended he did not know. She was good. She did get better when she was away from us during the war. Really good." Robb said and Elaine smiled.
"I will love to meet her." Elaine said and Robb nodded.
"Ride safe." Robb said and walked away leaving her with her horse.
When she looked up she saw Roslin walking toward her and tears welled up in both of their eyes as they embraced.
"I will miss you dearly sister. So much." Roslin said and sobbed in her arms and Elaine sobbed as well.
"I will miss you too so much." Elaine said and Roslin looked at Elaine and took her face in her delicate hands.
"You will be a great Queen. The best Queen the world will ever see." Roslin said and Elaine sobbed as they hugged once more.
"This is not goodbye Roslin. I will see you again. We will not be parted for our while life. This is will see you soon my Lady. Lady of Riverrun." Elaine said and hugged once more before Elaine mounted the horse and left the Riverlands behind. Her home all that she known to go to her new home. A frozen land. Winterfell.
The rode was not a easy one. It was long and tiresome and with every mile they needed to put on more cloaks to keep from the cold but she enjoyed it. Very much. She loved the scenery and talking to the bannermen getting to know the people of this country.
She way laughing at something Jon Umber said or as everyone else called him Smalljon. How he is called Smalljon she will never know. He towered over her and was so muscular that he resembled a bear more than a human. her husband rode next to them. She wiped her tears that formed there when she was laughing and looked at Robb.
"Husband how are you today." She asked and Robb nodded at her.
"I am well. We will be setting camp soon. We have less then a fortnight before we reach Winterfell." Robb said and Elaine looked at him in excitement.
"I cannot wait. I want to see it. From what people say it is beautiful." Elaine said and Robb gave her one of his rare small smiles. Not the tight ones he was always giving her like it pained him to smile.
"It is." he said and he rode on.
During the journey they shared a tent. It was expected of them and he bedded her most nights. They had a duty to perform. She needed to produce an heir. She was wondered if in fact she may be with child now but it is to soon to tell.
They spoke a word or two but never had a full conversation. She wanted to but she the words were always stuck in her throat. He came to their tent deep into the night took her and fell asleep and was out before she woke up.
That lasted the whole journey until they reached Winterfell. When Elaine saw it her mouth fell open. It was a beautiful castle covered in snow. It was large and the twins could fit in it thrice over. The Wintertown before the castle was beautiful as well it was all covered in light snow and Elaine liked it. She really did.
When they entered the courtyard of the Castle Elaine saw three people standing in front of other people who knelt before them when they came. One was an older man who had a Maester chains around him. One was a pretty young woman who had long brown hair and big grey eyes and there was a young boy no older then 10 standing next to his black direwolf who was frowning at them. All of them had sombre faces and Elaine knew something was wrong.
When Catelyn walked out of the Wheelhouse she ran and hugged all of her children. She kissed them both before looking around confused and scared.
"Where is Bran? Where is he Arya?" Catelyn asked and Arya looked at her mother with a sad look on her face.
"Mother we need to talk. Lets take it somewhere private." Arya said and Catelyn shook her face.
"I do not want to go somewhere private. I want to know where my boy is." Catelyn said with a shaky voice. Sansa went to stand next to her mother and took her in his arms. The Maester handed a letter to Robb who read it and threw it on the floor and looked at the people in front of him with a murderous look.
"You let him go. You let a cripple boy beyond the wall?" Robb said and Catelyn sobbed sinking to the ground.
"Mother please let me explain. Two Reed children Meera and Jojen came to Winterfell needed to speak to Bran. They said that the three eyes raven send them and Bran let them in and said he was dreaming of the tree eyed raven. He said he needed to go beyond the wall. He needed to find his destiny. I refused to let him go. He threatened that he will run away in the middle of the night. I tried o lock him away and lock the Reed kids away in the cells but Bran said it was no use. That he was dreaming of the dead and the war for the dawn and the he will never walk but he will fly. He was hell bent on going. He would have ran away in the middle on the night if we tried to stop him so I have him provisions and furs and made sure he has weapons and I sent Hodor with them. I tried to stop him please forgive me. Please mother." Arya explained and she fell next to Catelyn who hugged her close. She also heard Bran telling her about his dreams if the three eyes raven..
"I cannot believe this. You let a boy of 12 go beyond the wall. He will die there. He is a cripple." Robb said and the Maester looked down in shame.
"I know I disappointed you Your Grace but Brandon is a special child. He always have been. He is a warg and he dreams of the future. It is a Stark quality some of you have. He is one of them. He needed to go beyond the wall. You read it in his letter. There was no stopping him." The Maester said.
Robb walked over to his horse and looked at the people.
"Let go and find my brother and we will drag him him and lock him up if we need to." Robb sat on his horse and so did a dozen of me. They will fallow his King. Elaine saw Catelyn stand up muddy but holding the letter Bran wrote.
"Robb let him go. He needs to go." Catelyn said in a hallow voice.
"What are you saying mother. You are fine with him going. With him dying." Robb asked getting red on the face from anger. Catelyn looked at him giving him a stern look.
"Off course I am not fine with him going but he needs to go. Your father always said Bran was special he always was different from all of my children. He needs to be there. He needs to find the raven. Even if my heart breaks at the though we need to let him go. He will return to us." Catelyn said tears streaming down her face.
Robb looked at everybody again and walked away in anger. Elaine looked at the people in front of her crying. This was not the welcome she expected. Now they all will have to deal with the consequences. Yet Elaine thought that it was their least of their problems.
There we go. Please don't kill me about sending Bran beyond the wall. He needs to be there. He needs to become the three eyed Raven. The war of the dawn will happen eventually. I just need to establish some relationship before that. We will also see Jon as well in the coming chapter but we need to focus on Elaine and Robb first before that happens. Please review and let me know what you think.